National Geographic showcases 2017 travel photographer of the year

An erupting volcano, a ballet of swans, geometric architecture and a group of curious observers were just some of the subjects featured among the winners of National Geographic's 2017 travel photographer competition.

From the 15,000 entries, the Grand Prize was awarded to a photograph titled The Power of Nature, showing Mexico's Colima Volcano erupting with lava as it is hit by a bolt of lighting.

The hand behind the shot, Mexican Sergio Tapiro Velasco, took the photograph from around 12 kilometres away.

Mr Velasco had photographed the volcano for more than a decade and had been tracking its activity closely in the month leading up to the shot.

Mr Velasco told National Geographic he heard a booming noise and saw the biggest volcanic lightning he had ever seen. But it was not until he looked at the photos he had taken that he realised what a spectacular event he had captured.

"When I looked on the camera display, all I could do was stare," Mr Velasco said.

"What I was watching was impossible to conceive, the image showed those amazing forces of nature interacting on a volcano, while the lightning brightened the whole scene.

Since the airing of the gut-wrenching documentary Leaving Neverland, many of us have wrestled with an uncomfortable, yet essential question: given everything we know, can we continue listening to Michael Jackson's music?